Everafter
by Arren
Part Two
Chapter 4
Johnny and Scott Lancer passed the hand-lettered sign outside of town about noon. “Here, Everafter”, some local poet had written. The sun was high and hot as they loped into town, and Scott removed his hat and wiped an arm over his forehead before returning his hat to his head. He casually guided his horse to the hitching rail in front of the saloon and stopped.
Johnny, a few paces to his right continued straight down the road, pulling up when he saw his brother had turned off. He smiled as he turned in the saddle. “Oh no you don’t, brother. C’mon, we got a date with a dentist.”
“Not yet, Johnny. I’m hot and I need a drink.”
“It ain’t gonna get any easier, Scott. C’mon, let’s get it over with. Drinkin’ later.” He cocked his head toward the far end of the street. “C’mon.”
Scott sighed heavily and reluctantly turned his horse to follow Johnny.
The dentist’s office was two blocks down. A small house, painted red like a barn, with a big wooden tooth sign hanging out front. Johnny liked the look of it. Clean. Neat. Kinda like a doctor’s office should be. Usually dentists were also the local barber, but this one seemed to specialize only in dentistry. No other services were advertised on the sign.
Johnny pulled Barranca up to the neat white painted hitching post and swung down. Scott had stopped about ten paces back, not yet having brought himself to pull in. “C’mon, Scott. Let’s do this thing so we can go get some beers.”
Scott’s horse was stopped in its tracks in the middle of the street, Scott holding his sore jaw. “What’s this we business, little brother? I don’t see you needin’ to go have your teeth yanked out by the roots.”
Johnny walked the few paces out to where Scott had stopped and put his hand on the horse’s neck. “He may not have to yank anything out. You don’t know. Besides, it’s only one tooth, now quit being a baby and come on.”
Scott made no move toward the hitching post. Johnny smiled up at his brother, tugging on his arm. Gently he said, “C’mon.”
Scott looked down at the smiling face looking up at him. He couldn’t help a resigned grin. Johnny had a way of charming people that no one he had ever met was immune to, including himself. Without a word, he nudged his horse toward the post. Johnny walked along with him, his hand resting on Scott’s leg the whole way.
Johnny led the way inside, removing his hat as they stepped into the cool, shady interior, a small bell tinkled overhead as the door opened, and then again as it closed.
Inside was a small furnished waiting room with several wooden chairs and a small, upholstered couch. There was a table by the window with fresh cut flowers in a clear vase. The room had a definite feminine touch to it, Johnny noted. ‘You don’t suppose…,’ it occurred to him, just as the inner office door opened and a young woman came out wiping her hands on a towel.
The woman was Scott’s age or younger with thick red hair swept up in a loose bun with tendrils escaping down the side of her face and neck. Aside from the startling red hair, her eyes were the brightest green Johnny had ever seen. He flashed on Val. That bastard never mentioned this when he recommended the dentist in Everafter, he thought
Johnny had stopped suddenly as the woman reached out to shake his hand. He felt a bump as his brother apparently had not stopped and run right into him. Johnny was unaccustomed to shaking hands with a woman, and brushed his hand off on his pants before taking her small, smooth hand in his.
“I’m Kate Finney. Can I help you?” She clasped Johnny’s hand warmly, her twinkling green eyes meeting his blue ones.
“Uh, yes ma’am. I’m Johnny Lancer, and this…” he turned and grabbed Scott’s arm, pulling him around, “is my brother…” As an afterthought, he added, “Scott.”
Scott shot him a glare, wondering if Johnny was having a hard time remembering his name.
Kate’s brow furrowed as she saw Scott’s jaw. “Oh my! You look like you’re in some pain.” She took Scott’s arm from Johnny and began pulling him through the door. “Come with me, we need to see to that right away,” she said brusquely as she efficiently pulled him through the door.
Scott resisted her pull momentarily. “Are you the dentist?”
“Yes, I certainly am, now come on, let me take a look at that.” She tugged at him again. Johnny frowned at his brother and nudged him forward with his shoulder.
Scott relented and allowed himself to be pulled forward by the lady dentist and pushed from behind by his entirely too eager brother.
Chapter 5
Johnny relaxed at a corner table, a half empty beer mug in front of him and his feet propped up on the chair next to him. From here he could see anyone who entered, a habit that he acquired as a matter of survival in his old profession, and one that he held onto as a matter of course.
The grin on his face was for the pretty lady dentist, even if she had thrown him out of her office. Once she had established Scott in her examination chair and was looking around in his mouth, Johnny couldn’t stop himself from trying to see too. Several times, they bumped heads until finally Kate had politely but firmly escorted him out, telling him that she would send her assistant for him when she was through.
Johnny had looked pleadingly at Scott, but he had been no help. Scott flapped his arm at him, “pushing” him out while grunting. He got his message across adequately and Johnny reluctantly left his brother to the care of Kate Finney and her assistant, Otis Butts.
Otis was an old black man of indeterminate age, spry but bent, his hands gnarled with arthritis. He could have been anywhere between fifty and a hundred. Kate didn’t take time to offer more than a curt introduction before beginning her work and subsequently evicting Johnny.
It had been over an hour and Johnny was nursing his second beer. He decided that if Otis didn’t come by the time this one was finished, he was going back over there himself.
He rocked back in his chair, scanning the room, sizing up the locals, and the few strangers. He could always tell the townies from the drifters. It was an attitude, a bearing, an indefinable something that separated folks who lived in a town…in a home, from those who drifted from town to town, home to home.
Two such drifters were sitting at the next table, both of them on the side against the wall, both of them leaning their chairs against the wall. They had an air of arrogance, like they thought themselves the toughest guys in the room. They were the kind that Johnny had learned, in his vast experience, were not only looking for trouble, but were not above starting some if none was readily available. For the last hour they had been quiet though, talking between themselves, occasionally getting up to refill their pitcher of beer. It was as if they were waiting for someone.
Johnny wasn’t watching them closely as his mind was mostly on Scott and what they must be doing to him. Occasionally his hand would steal up to rub his jaw. He did keep an eye on them though, habitually keeping his senses tuned.
Johnny pulled his hat down over his eyes and lowered his chin until it rested on his chest. With his eyes closed, he noticed that he heard the sounds around him more clearly. He heard the conversation two tables away, then he zeroed in on the two men at the table next to him. They seemed to be talking about a new job.
“…said it’s over near Morro Coyo-way. Big spread. Man he sure wants that fella bad.” Johnny bristled at the mention of Morro Coyo. He didn’t move a muscle, but all senses were on alert. He heard the man pour more beer from the pitcher, sloshing it and then putting the pitcher down noisily.
“Brubaker’s s’posed to be hirin’ for it. Gonna be big whatever it is.” Johnny heard booted feet heavily hit the floor. “Where the hell is that guy?”
“Simmer down, Collins. We was early anyhow.” The booted feet pulled a chair over and landed heavily in its seat. “What you s’pose Brubaker’s got agin’ this Lancer fella anyhow?”
“I dunno, but I can tell you one thing. It’s either money or a woman. It’s always one ‘er ta other.”
A couple of rumbling chuckles was the last Johnny heard for several minutes. After a few more minutes, a new pair of boots approached and stopped right next to Johnny’s chair. Johnny opened his eyes and saw a ragged pair of gray boots standing before him and at the same time, felt a tug on his shoulder.
Johnny rose up and pushed his hat back, knowing in an instant it was Kate’s assistant and not wanting him to blurt his name out loud. “Yeah, you all done with my brother now?” Johnny quickly rose and put an arm around the old man’s shoulder, turning him toward the door.
“Well, uh, yessir, Miss Kate told me ta come fetch ya.”
“Well, good. I hope he wasn’t too much trouble.” Johnny grinned and laughed as he hurried the old man out the swinging doors, glancing at the two men as he passed. They didn’t pay him any attention, their glazed eyes staring dumbly at the pitcher of beer in front of them.
Outside the saloon, Johnny and Otis quickly sidestepped as they were met with two men coming in from the street. The larger of the two men had long, shoulder length white hair. He wasn’t old, no more than thirty-five, but his hair was as white as the fuzz that covered old Otis’ head.
The shorter of the two men was dark; dark hair, dark eyes, dark skin; a small well-trimmed beard and mustache, a hard compact body. He reminded Johnny of a bull dog with large, muscular shoulders and a narrow waist.
Johnny turned to watch the two men disappear into the saloon. He could see them pause inside the door, and then turn in the direction of the two men whom Johnny had watched.
His blue eyes narrowed, crinkling at the corners, studying and sizing up. The four men were meeting for something that involved Lancer. The look of them told him it wasn’t something good.
Otis stood patiently by his side, watching the young man, wondering if he should say something or not. Miss Kate had sent him to fetch the brother back to the office. What was he going to do if the brother didn’t want to come?
After a moment, all four of the men had come back to the door and left the saloon in a silent group. Johnny quickly turned, and pulling Otis with him, he started walking slowly across the street; alert to see which way the men went.
The four moved east along the boardwalk, heading toward the hotel a few doors down. Still walking slowly and keeping one eye on them, Johnny watched as the four of them disappeared through the ornate doors of the Happily Everafter Hotel.
“…she’s waitin’ on us.”
Johnny turned back to the forgotten Otis. “What?”
“I say Miss Kate be waitin’ on us.”
As if returning from a short trip, Johnny forced his attention back to the business at hand. “Right. Uh, sorry. C’mon, let’s go see what Miss Kate done to my brother.”
Otis skipped along to keep up with Johnny’s quickening pace. “Oh she done real good. It was a nasty one, it was, but she done good.”
“And how ‘bout Scott? How’d he do?”
“Oh, he done real good, too. Miss Kate knows how to make it so it don’t hurt so much.”
Otis led the way into the cool interior of the dentist’s office. The tinkling of the bell announced their arrival. Johnny paused just a moment to let his eyes adjust from the bright sunlight outside, to the dim room. Otis took his arm and led him straight through the empty waiting room into the back office. Otis wasn’t one to like to dawdle when he had a job.
Scott was still lying in the examining chair, his eyes were closed, his face relaxed, a small smile on his lips. Kate Finney was sitting at a small desk and writing something in a leather-bound book.
Johnny stepped over to his brother and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Scott?”
At his word, Scott’s eyes opened and Kate Finney turned around in her seat.
“Hey, Johnny! How ya doin’?” Scott said, a little too enthusiastically.
Johnny took his hat off and pulled a stool over to sit by his brother. “Well, I’m just fine, Scott. You doin’ okay?”
Scott batted his hand, “Aw, sure. I’m just fine. Nothin’ but a little infected tooth.” It was obvious that his focus was fluid as he gazed at his brother’s face. After a second, Scott’s eyes began to slowly drift shut again.
Johnny reached up and stroked the top of Scott’s head. “Scott?” he said quietly.
“He’s just fine, Mister Lancer. I gave him an opiate for the pain. It’s wearing off now. He’ll be able to leave with you in a few minutes.”
Johnny’s eyes locked with hers, the question on his face obvious, even if he didn’t speak it aloud.
Kate smiled. “It was an impacted wisdom tooth. I had to extract the tooth, I’m afraid, and then I cleaned out the pocket of infection. It’s packed with a medicated packing material now. I need to see it again tomorrow. Do you think you can bring him back?”
Johnny swallowed. He was an experienced gunfighter, had seen every sort of bullet wound, knife wound and any other wound one man could inflict on another, but the notion of an abscessed tooth was foreign to him.
“Wisdom tooth?” was all he managed to say.
Kate smiled indulgently. “Yes, it’s a molar in the very back of your mouth.” She demonstrated by pointing to a tooth in the back of her own mouth. “A lot of people have them up inside, and when they finally break through, they can cause problems. Many people have to have them removed as children or young adults. Some people never have any trouble with them at all.”
Johnny reached up and unconsciously rubbed his jaw.
“So, can you bring him back here tomorrow for me to pull out that packing?”
Johnny stood, wringing his hat. He could handle bullet wounds, but her description of the infected tooth and the packing served to make him queasy. “Uh, yes ma’am. I’ll have him back here tomorrow.” He turned to Scott and shook his shoulder. “C’mon, Scott, time to go.”
Scott grunted and leaned forward, trying to lever himself out of the reclining chair. Johnny put a hand behind his back and helped push him up.
“Uh, when should we come tomorrow, ma’am?”
“Around this time will be fine,” Kate said as she moved smoothly to the door to hold it open.
Scott swayed on his feet and Johnny put an arm around his waist to steady him. “Yes, ma’am, I’ll have him here.”
“Uh, Mister Lancer?”
Johnny and Scott stopped mid-way through the door. Johnny turned back. “Yes, ma’am?”
“I don’t think that I’m much older than you or your brother. Do you think you could just call me Kate? ‘Ma’am’ makes me feel old.” Her smile was dazzling.
Johnny favored her with his best as well. “Yes, m…uh, Kate. I’ll stop calling you ma’am if you’ll stop calling me ‘Mister Lancer’. Mister Lancer is my father, and he ain’t here.” His eyes dipped as he tried to regain his composure.
“It’s a deal, Johnny.” Her green eyes twinkled. “Oh and,” she pulled a small brown bottle from a pocket hidden in her skirts, “give him five drops of this in some tea tonight. It’ll help with the pain. And no alcohol!”
Johnny had a hard time pulling his eyes away. Finally he muttered, “Yes, ma’…Kate. We’ll see you tomorrow.” He maneuvered his brother out through the waiting room. Otis darted ahead and opened the outside door for them. As they reached the sidewalk, Johnny put his hat back on and Scott’s hands flew to his eyes.
“Ow!”
“I know it’s bright. C’mon, let’s get you on your horse. Think you can get up?”
Scott nodded, his fingers still pressing into his eyes. They reached the side of Scott’s horse and Johnny reached up and retrieved Scott’s hat from the saddle horn and placed it on his brother’s head. Then he gave Scott a leg up and watched for a minute as Scott settled in the saddle. He seemed steady enough.
Scott looked down at him. “You gonna just stand there all day?”
Johnny laughed as he hustled around to Barranca and swung up into the saddle without touching the stirrup. “Nope, I’m comin’! “ He turned Barranca and nudged him slowly out into the street, turning back to be sure Scott was following.
“We’re gonna have to get a room, the lady dentist wants to see you again tomorrow.”
“What? Why?”
“She said she packed something in…there,” he pointed vaguely to Scott’s face, “…and she needs to take it out and look at it.”
“Well, that’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”
Johnny looked quickly at his brother to gauge whether that had been sarcasm or not. Judging by the silly grin on Scott’s face, it was anything but.
Chapter 6
Slim had tiptoed on eggshells for three days before the dam finally broke at the Sherman Relay Station. Jonesy had been aloof, but at least he would speak to Slim. Andy had been silent; completely and utterly silent for three days. He would speak to Jonesy, but would go quiet when Slim walked in the room.
Andy had taken his punishment with equanimity. Slim was proud that he was owning up to his mistake and was taking his punishment like a man. Every day he got up early to do the chores then went to school. After school, he worked until closing at Mister Barton’s store, then came home, ate dinner and did his homework and went to bed. The next day started the cycle all over again. During that time, he made no time in his day for his brother.
Slim could not bring himself to be angry at the boy. He was more angry at himself than at Andy. If it weren’t for his overblown temper and his stubborn mule-headedness, Jess would still be here, Andy would still be speaking to him, and the relay station would be running a whole lot smoother than it was. He admitted, to himself if to no one else, that he missed Jess.
After the initial anger had evaporated, he was left with a void that a true friend had once filled. He had such great hopes for the ranch, and for Jess’ place in it. Now each day was just one more day filled with relay teams, broken fences, chores upon chores, and no end in sight. He worked so hard to keep his head above water, that there was no time to consider expansion; the things he and Jess had discussed late at night on the front porch in the dark.
Andy was a good worker, and would one day be his full partner, but he wasn’t ready for a man’s work yet. Besides, Slim insisted that school came first, before play, before ranch chores, before anything. Slim swore to his mother before she died, and several times since, that he would provide Andy with two things above all else- a safe and stable home, and an education. From that starting place, he and his mother agreed, Andy could go anywhere and do anything he wanted.
As Slim ate his dinner, Jonesy sat on the other side of the table sipping coffee. He and Andy had eaten earlier and Andy had already gone to his room to start his homework. Every time Slim looked up, he met the old man’s eyes. It was beginning to disconcert him.
“What is it, Jonesy?” he said as he loudly put his coffee cup back in the saucer.
“Oh, nothin’, boy. Just wonderin’.”
Slim’s eyes squinted. The old man was up to something. “Wonderin’ what?”
“Wonderin’ how long you’re gonna let that mule head of yours stop you from helping your brother out.”
Slim let out a long sigh. He needn’t ask. He knew what Jonesy was saying. Andy was hurting and the only friends he had left were Jonesy and him, and he had let him down. The boy needed his brother back. Hell, Slim needed his brother back, too.
Slim threw down his napkin and pushed back from the table. “I’m goin’,” he said simply and headed off toward Andy’s door. Jonesy sat back, put his thumbs under his suspenders and smiled.
Slim knocked but didn’t wait for an answer. He opened the door and stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind him. Andy lay on his stomach with his stocking feet up in the air behind him, reading a book. He looked up as Slim entered, then pushed himself up and swung his legs around to the opposite side of the narrow bed, turning his back on Slim.
Slim sat on the side closest to him, his back to Andy. “Andy, I, um…,” He took the book Andy had abandoned and thumbed through it. “I know you blame me for Jess leavin’ and I just want you to know, I’d give anything if he was still here. It was all my fault and I’m…sorry.”
There was silence for a few minutes. Slim could hear Andy sniffling, probably trying hard not to cry.
Slim set the book down and stood up, walking around to the other side of the bed. He sat next to the boy and put a long arm around his shoulder. “Andy, I just don’t think I could stand it if you’re gonna hate me for the rest of my life.”
Andy turned to his brother, tears running freely down his face. “You didn’t even try to go after him!”
“Andy, I did try. What direction would you have me go in? North? Maybe he headed up to the Yellowstone again? Or maybe south to go back to Texas where he came from? How ‘bout east? or west? I just don’t know where to start, Andy.” Slim dropped his head, the helplessness overwhelming him.
Andy reached up and put a hand on Slim’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Slim, I guess I never thought of it that way.”
“I asked around town, Andy. I asked all the drivers. No one’s seen him. He hasn’t been in town in over a month now. No one knows…” Slim’s voice caught; he swallowed hard. “If I knew what to do, I’d do it, Andy, I promise I would.” The tears were flowing freely now.
Andy reached up and put both arms around his brother. They sat holding each other tight. Andy buried his face in his brother’s chest. “It’s all my fault, Slim. It’s all my fault…not yours…”
Slim rubbed the boy’s back, holding him close and making soothing circles on his back. “It’s not, Andy. I promise you, it’s not…”
Outside the door, Jonesy heard the sobbing and the murmuring. Finally, things would settle. It would be back the way it was before Jess came. Oh, it would take some time, but those boys would be all right. He turned and went to the kitchen to clean up the supper dishes.
An hour later, Slim came quietly out of Andy’s room. Jonesy sat by the fire smoking his pipe, and Slim sat next to him. “He’s asleep.”
“You alright, Slim?”
Slim sighed, the exhaustion showing. “Yeah, Jonesy. We’ll be alright.”
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